Both scenarios are possible?

Algebra Level 1

The sum of the 2 numbers is either 5 or 6.
The product of the 2 numbers is either 5 or 6 as well.

Which of the following cannot be a value for either of the 2 numbers?

1 2 3 4 5

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5 solutions

Dan Ley
Mar 5, 2017

1 + 5 = 6 1+5=6 and 1 × 5 = 5 1\times5=5

2 + 3 = 5 2+3=5 and 2 × 3 = 6 2\times3=6

5 5 and 6 6 are not divisible by 4 4 , so 4 4 cannot be a value for the 2 numbers.


Solving for non-integer solutions, with variables x x and y y ( x > y x>y ):

We have considered the cases where x + y = 6 x+y=6 , x × y = 5 x\times y=5 and x + y = 5 x+y=5 , x × y = 6 x\times y=6 .

If x + y = 6 x+y=6 and x × y = 6 x\times y=6 , then y = 6 x y=\frac{6}{x} and x + 6 x = 6 x+\frac{6}{x}=6 .

x 2 6 x + 6 = 0 x = 3 + 3 y = 3 3 \implies x^2-6x+6=0 \implies x=\boxed{3+\sqrt{3}} \implies y=\boxed{3-\sqrt{3}} .

Or if x + y = 5 x+y=5 and x × y = 5 x\times y=5 , then y = 5 x y=\frac{5}{x} and x + 5 x = 5 x+\frac{5}{x}=5 .

x 2 5 x + 5 = 0 x = 5 + 5 2 y = 5 5 2 \implies x^2-5x+5=0 \implies x=\boxed{\frac{5+\sqrt{5}}{2}} \implies y=\boxed{\frac{5-\sqrt{5}}{2}} .

Moderator note:

This solution uses the fact we're only testing the given options. For the general problem (without the options) we need to account for the fact the problem asks for "numbers" and not necessarily integers. Since the values we are testing for the multiple choice options are integers, and an integer added to a non-integer can't be 5 or 6, both the circle and square must be integers.

Can you solve the system of equations such that both values are non-integers?

Wonderful, you have shown that 1,2,3,5 can be of the numbers, and you have also shown that 4 cannot be any of the numbers.

This solution is complete!

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 3 months ago
Jesse Nieminen
Mar 5, 2017

Clearly ( 2 , 3 ) \left(2,3\right) and ( 1 , 5 ) \left(1,5\right) are solutions.

Neither of the numbers can be 4 4 , since if either were 4 4 then the other one wouldn't be an integer since neither 5 5 nor 6 6 are divisible by 4 4 , which would be impossible since sum of integer and non-integer cannot be an integer.

Hence, the answer is 4 \boxed{4} .

Clearly ( 2 , 3 ) \left(2,3\right) and ( 1 , 5 ) \left(1,5\right) are solutions.

Hmm, maybe I'm being nitpicky here, but I don't find this to be immediately obvious, it might be more obvious if the two numbers are integers, but that is not stated.

Thanks for your solution~~

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 3 months ago
M D
Mar 9, 2017

( 1 , 5 ) (1, 5) and ( 2 , 3 ) (2, 3) are solutions, so they can't be the answer. We will show that 4 4 cannot be either of the numbers.

If we assume the first number is 4 4 , we have 4 + y = 5 4 + y = 5 or 4 + y = 6 4 + y = 6 . This would yield either y = 1 y = 1 or y = 2 y = 2 , respectively. But neither of these satisfy 4 y { 5 , 6 } 4y \in \{5, 6\} . as 4 1 = 4 4 \cdot 1 = 4 and 4 2 = 8 4 \cdot 2 = 8 . Thus 4 4 can't be a value for either of the two numbers.

How did you find out (1,5) and (2,3) are solutions in the first place? Your solution would be clearer if you provide some insights of that.

Christopher Boo - 4 years, 3 months ago

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I suppose that is a fair criticism. I don't have any insights for that besides some guess and check, and that they came up as solutions without much effort on my part.

m d - 4 years, 3 months ago

Because of the multiple choice the question becomes easy: 1 and 5 together fulfill the requirements and so do 3 an 2. So 4 is the answer to this question. Next to that: 4 doesn't divide 5 nor 6, so it can't be 1 of the numbers either.

MCQ made it so much easier, doesn't it?

How do you plan to solve this problem if I instead asked "What is the sum of all the distinct possible values of these numbers?" (Removing the MCQ of course)

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 3 months ago

Neither 5 nor 6 are divisible by 4, so multiplication would be an utter disaster. This basically gives away the answer.

yeah, for completeness, you need to show that all the numbers 1,2,3,5 satisfy these conditions too.

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 3 months ago

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